You've just been pre-sued!
Rodney 10 comments PollThe anti-piracy powers that be have just found a new way to battle those nasty pirates who get free music and bootleg copies of performances - sue them before they even commit the alleged offence!
Oh yeah, you heard me right: legal action is now being initiated against people before they've even committed a crime.
Concert producers in the good ol "land of the free" have stumbled upon the fantastic idea of filing mass law suits against people for bootlegging concerts before the concerts have even happened. Hundreds of "John Doe" and "Jane Doe" lawsuits are being filed before concerts occur, allowing them to simply fill in the names of people at the end of the show.
Actually it turns out this is a real winner for the producers because they're able to rush the suits through the legal system very quickly - after all, as no one has yet been charged, no one turns up for the defence! This means that by the time security tap you on the shoulder at the concert for holding your mobile phone camera up to the stage, you've already been found guilty and they can seize your phone and hand you a whopping on the spot suit, to boot!
Due to the leniencies of the civil court systems in the US (and many other countries), burdens of proof and options of defence that exist in criminal cases are either relaxed or entirely absent, meaning that producers essentially have free reign in this matter.
The fact that these cases are not only being allowed through but gaining momentum is a serious concern. Obviously recording companies are either already getting on the bandwagon or soon will be and it's entirely likely to find that people will start getting massive lawsuits the moment the click 'download" on a honeypot torrent. You can forget about a fair trial because it's already taken place.
Eventually, one can hope sanity will prevail and some law maker will clamp down on this kind of action but for at least the next several months, it's likely to that the anti-piracy industry is going to need a few extra photo copiers to keep up with all the claims they're going to be filing.
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Rather, may their ticket *sales* drop.
joao
Friday 13th August 2010 | 04:18 AM...in response to this comment by Gina. iuy tuiyg uiy g
Oh, boy, look at me, I've got another follower.
Incredible. Who's the creative wanker who thought of that?
...in response to this comment by Mikey. Maybe a creative wanker but probably will retain his or her job for thinking outside the square....
David
Saturday 14th August 2010 | 01:02 AMIf you read the lawsuit it isn't about piracy as much as selling counterfeit merchandise. Basically they're pre-suing you for selling shirts that bear their copyrighted logos and slogans.
...in response to this comment by Mikey. Obviously an attorney -- and probably this genius right here:
https://rustylime.com/show_article.php?id=4419#comm35796
HenkV
Sunday 15th August 2010 | 07:23 PMI have many issues with ripping off.
Anyone who makes illegal junk available... should get sued. Never rip off performances
Wasn't there a movie about this? "What would you do if you were accused of a murder, you had not committed... yet? The future is seen and the guilty punished before the crime has ever been committed."
Yes...wait for it...
.
.
.
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Minority Report (yuk)
f~
Gina
Thursday 12th August 2010 | 09:38 PMThankfully, I don't own a cell phone, plan on getting one, nor do I go to concerts.
Take that, Concert producers! :P May your ticket prices drop.